The International Face of Doi Chaang
Doi Chaang is among the very few Thai specialty coffee brands that have successfully established an international footprint, thanks mainly to company co-founder, John Darch.
The British national’s efforts clearly demonstrate how crucially important it is for local specialty coffee brand owners to have somebody with global marketing know-how at their side if they intend to build up an international presence. The pioneering brand is currently commercially available in both Canada and the United Kingdom.
According to Doi Chaang’s international coordinator Khant Gi Mon Thip, Doi Chaang is also trying to expand its domestic retail business as well as franchises for the HORECA (hotel/restaurant/café) market.
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The company currently has franchises in Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Myanmar, and South Korea. “And in March 2019 we expect to conclude negotiations with master franchise holders in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan,” Mon Thip divulged.
Furthermore, in January 2019 Doi Chaang sent a green bean shipment to Australia, where the company had previously gained a foothold. “We had lost the connection [with the Australian customer] for a while, but have now re-established it,” Mon Thip said.
Doi Chaang is currently producing between 1,700 and 2,000 metric tons of arabica per year post-processing. But according to Mon Thip, the company “has the capacity to increase that to 3,000 to 3,800 tons,” giving it the necessary cushion to accommodate its franchising drive.